Anti-vibration lock for pedestal heads



A ril 9, 1963 J. w. SPISELMAN 3,034,911

ANTI-VIBRATION LOCK FOR PEDESTAL HEADS Filed 001;. 18, 1950 FIG I 16INVE NTOR JOSEPH W. SPISELMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent Joseph W.Spiselman, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Floating Floors Inc, New York,N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 63,404 12Claims. (Cl. 254-98) This invention relates to a new and improvedpedestal construction for elevated flooring and reference is made toPatent No. 2,830,332 having the same general objects of invention andproviding removable sectional flooring particularly for use forelectronic machine installations such as computators and the like.

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of anew and improved pedestal construction. In the usual pedestalconstruction, a threaded upright is provided on a sub-flooring and thehead which directly supports the floor sections is placed over the topfree end of this threaded upright, where it rests on a nut threaded ontothe upright. By adjusting the nut, the head member for supporting thesection is adjustable up-and-down. In this way the elevated flooring maybe easily leveled, -regardless of most irregularities in thesub-flooring.

However, it has been found that as heavy machinery is moved over theelevated flooring, and also where partitions are provided andrepositioned, the nut has a tendency to turn in a direction to cause thesection supporting heads to descend and thus a positive lock nut isused. It has been found, however, that lock nuts of any known kind arenot practical for use in connection with this matter because of the factthat it is often difiicult to unlock the nut when re-adjustment isrequired, and also the installation is diflicult because ordinarily oncethe correct position of the head-supporting nut is found, the installeris very apt to overlook the necessity for applying the lock to the nut.

For the above reasons, this invention provides an extremely simple anduseful double-purpose, easily applied fixture which prevents the nutwhen once set from turning in either direction and which also locks thehead to the threaded upright or standard; and furthermore theconstruction of the invention in this case is such that when thehead-supporting nut tends to turn, as described above, this tendencyresults in a camming and further tightening of the device which securesthe head to the threaded upright standard even more positively.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly set forth inthe appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which a FIG. 1is a view in elevation illustrating the invention, parts being brokenaway and in section;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation, looking in the direction of arrow 2 inFIG. 1, with parts broken away;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are detail views illustrating the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modification;

FIG. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing another modification.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 indicates abase plate which is adapted to be mounted directly on the sub-flooring,and of course it is to be understood that this sub-iooring being alreadyin existence and in many cases quite old, is variable and does notpresent a completely fiat surface. The plate 10 is provided with anupstanding threaded member 12 which in ice this case is solid and on itand meshed therewith is a nut 14 which may be square or hex.

The elevated flooring sections are shown at 16, 16 and these are mountedupon a head 18, the exact construction of which is not pertinent to thepresent invention except insofar as it provides a downwardly openingcentral hollow portion 20 which fits over the top free end of thethreaded member 12 as clearly shown. The exact position of elevation ofthis member is determined by the position of the nut, the lower end ofhead 18 bearing on the top surface of the nut. The sections 16 aremounted and supported on the head and when it is desired to vary thevertical position of this particular support, the nut is turned ineither direction to raise or lower it.

However, with the parts in position as described, re peated vibration onthe floor 16 causes nut 14 to turn in a direction to descend on thethreaded member 12, and this of course allows the head 18 to alsodescend to like degree.

Now the present invention comprises a kind of a thumb-nut which has arelatively short threaded portion 22 and a relatively sharp point at 24to fit into the threads on the member 12 as clearly shown in FIG. 1.This threaded member 22 terminates in a relatively broad finger-hold 26by which it is applied through a tapped hole in the side of the head 18as shown. The member 26 is separated from the threaded portion 22 bymeans of a circular or similarly shaped plate 28.

In the operation of the device, when the nut 14 is in the desiredposition, the installer merely inserts the threaded end 22 of the deviceinto the tapped hole in the head 18 and turns until the same is tightwith the point 24 engaged in the threads of the member 12. This lockshead 18 to standard '12 but does not giveit any appreciable verticalload support which is derived from the nut 14.

The flange or circular member 28 overlaps a side surface of the nut. Ifthe nut 14 should tend to turn under vibration, the member 28 clearlyprevents any but the slightest rotary motion, and as a corner of the nutcomes into closer contact with member 28, the latter becomes cammed orwedged, jamming the screw and forming an even tighter connection thanbefore. As a matter of fact, looking at FIG. 2 it will be seen thatthere is an actual tendency for the device to rotate in a clockwisedirection, when the nut tends to turn, and this action tends to tightenthe threaded portion 22 against the threads of the upright standard 12.Even if member 28 is not integral with member 22 and member 26, and isloosely arranged over member 22 as a large washer, the rotary motion ofnut 14 is constrained and the tightening effect described takes place.

It will thus be seen that this invention provides for at least twofunctions. It secures the head 18 to the standard 12 and it prevents thenut 14 from rotating. It is extremely easily applied in any position ofthe nut 14 and has a self-tightening. feature dueto vibration on head 18as explained above. in attempting to turn nut 14 down-, wardly whichwould be in a direction to cause the circular member 28 to be turned ina direction to tighten the screw 22. i

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is seen a generallykeystoneashaped member which is indicated by the reference numeral 30.Referring to FIG. 6 particularly, it will be seen that the member 30 hasan aperture therein 32 for the generally loose reception of ascrew-threaded member 34 which is generally the same as that at 22. Thescrew-threaded member 34 has a fingerhold 36 by which it is turned andan abutment 38 which may be a nut to impinge upon the side surface ofthe member 30, causing the same to more or less engage the nut 14 asabove described in the event that the members 31} and 34 should besubstituted for that shown in FIG. 1 at 22, 26, etc. The downwardlyextending portion 40 of member performs the function of the circularflange member 28 and the weight thereof will cause it to depend so as.to engage the nut. This modification of the invention illustrates thefact that the screw-threaded portion 34 may be loose from the vibrationlock member 30, and not formed as an integral part. The aperture 32 maybe flanged as shown in FIG. 6. Member has an inwardly turned portionpreferably at 42 so as to better engage the nut in spite of the factthat it dangles loose from screw 34.

Turning now to FIG. 8 there is a similar modification shown but in thiscase there is a resilient stop for the nut and thumbhold. This isprovided as at 44 by merely extending the member 30 of FIG. 6 andbending it around in spaced relationship as at 46 from the main bodymember 48. The threaded member St is similar to that at 34 as handle 52is similar to that at 36.

It will be seen that by a very simple means the objects of the inventionin this case are carried out. The pedestal head is adjustably supportedon the nut and the nut is prevented from turning in either direction butparticularly in a downward direction. Any tendency of this nut to turnwill jamb the fixture in such a way as to tighten the same in itsposition, and therefore a permanent adjustment is made. However, thisadjustment is easily readjusted when, as and if desired by merelybacking off the screw 22 and then turning the nut to the desired newlocation, again applying the screw to finger-strength tightness in thepedestal head. Also the action is the same whether the threaded member12 is a solid standard or a pipe, and whether the nut 14- be a squarenut or a hex nut or other similar threaded member.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A pedestal construction 'for elevated sectional flooring comprising apedestal member, a head member adapted to be mounted on the pedestalmember, adjustable supporting means on the pedestal member for direct-1y supporting the head member, said adjustable supporting means beingmovable along the pedestal to hold the head member at a predeterminedposition with respect thereto, means on the head member directlysecuring the same to the pedestal above the supporting means and meansdepending from the means on the head member and contiguous with saidsupporting means on the pedestal preventing accidental adjustment of thesupporting means.

2. A pedestal construction for elevated sectional flooring comprising anupright free-ended pedestal member, a head member adapted to be looselymounted on the pedestal member at the upper end of the latter,adjustable supporting means operatively associated with the pedestalmember for directly supporting the head member, said adjustablesupporting means being movable along the pedestal to hold the headmember at an adjusted vertical position with respect thereto, and meanson the head member directly securing the same to the pedestal, thelast-named means including an element contiguous with said supportingmeans on the pedestal preventing accidental adjustment of the supportingmeans.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pedestal, a flat-sidednut threaded on said pedestal for adjustment therealong, a floor sectionsupporting head adapted to be received on said pedestal and resting on asurface of the nut, the not being adjustable to adjust the head relativeto the pedestal, and means on said head directly engageable with saidpedestal and including an element extending into a close relationshipwith respect to the flats of the nut, preventing accidental turning ofthe nut.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said means comprises a member extendingthrough a part of the head into engagement with the pedestal, saidelement extending past the portion of said head resting on the nut andinto the area of the nut.

5. The device of the class described in claim 3 wherein said meanscomprises a threaded member extending through a wall of the head andengageable at its inner end with the pedestal, a fingerhold on the outerend of said member, said element fiorming a portion of the fingerhold.

6. The device of the class described in claim 3 wherein said meanscomprises a threaded member extend-ing through a wall of the head andengageable at its inner end with the pedestal, a fingerhold on the outerend of said member, said element comprising a washer-like element fixedwith relation to said threaded member.

7. The device of the class described in claim 3 wherein said meanscomprises a threaded member extending through a wall of the head andengageable at its inner end with the pedestal, a fingerhold on the outerend of said member, said element being loosely mounted on said threadedmember.

8. A pedestal construction for elevated flooring comprising a generallyupright threaded pedestal member, a nut having a flat side threadedthereon, a head having a recess therein receivable over the upper end ofthe pedestal member, said head having a surface resting on the nut sothat the head is vertically adjustable as the nut is turned, ahead-locking member extending through a wall of said head into therecess and engaging the pedestal, and a relatively wide nut-lockingmember on the head-locking member, said nut-locking member extendinginto the region of the flat side of the nut and holding the same againstaccidental turning.

9. A pedestal construction for elevated flooring comprising a generallyupright threaded pedestal member, a'nut having a flat side threadedthereon, a head having a recess therein receivable over the upper end ofthe pedestal member, said head having a surface resting on the nut sothat the head is vertically adjustable as the nut is turned, ahead-locking member extending through a wall of said head into therecess and engaging the pedestal, and a relatively wide nut-lockingmember on the head-locking member, said nut-locking member extendinginto the region of the flat side of the nut and holding the same againstaccidental turning, said headlocking member being threaded and having apointed inner end for engagement in the threads of the pedestal.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein said nut-locking member is circular.

'11. The device of claim 8 wherein said nut-locking member isnon-circular.

1 2. The device of claim- 8 wherein said nut-locking member is looselymounted on the head-locking member and has a major portion thereoflocated at one side of said head-locking member to depend therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS594,525 Douglass Nov. 30, 1897 829,485 OMeara Aug. 28, 1906 981,556Harman Jan. 10, 1911 1,570,730 De Lano Jan. 26, 1926 1,853,913 MarinerApr. 12, 1932 2,584,015 Hawes Jan. 29, 1952 2,956,653 L-iskey Oct. 18,1960

1. A PEDESTAL CONSTRUCTION FOR ELEVATED SECTIONAL FLOORING COMPRISING APEDESTAL MEMBER, A HEAD MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE PEDESTALMEMBER, ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING MEANS ON THE PEDESTAL MEMBER FOR DIRECTINGMEANS BEING MOVABLE ALONG THE PEDESTAL TO HOLD THE HEAD MEMBER AT APREDETERMINED POSITION WITH RESPECT THERETO, MEANS ON THE HEAD MEMBERDIRECTLY SECURING THE SAME TO THE PEDESTAL ABOVE THE SUPPORTING MEANSAND MEANS DEPENDING FROM THE MEANS ON THE HEAD MEMBER AND CONTIGUOUSWITH SAID SUPPORTING MEANS ON THE PEDESTAL PREVENTING ACCIDENTALADJUSTMENT OF THE SUPPORTING MEANS.